▪️Sensational Police southpaw Emmanuel Omollo beats Wandera for the second time with Shaffi falling to relatively unknown Prisons’ bantamweight Chris “Tiger” Musyoki
▪️KDF lead defending champions Police with 12 boxers in the finals while the cops have 8
▪️Accomplished Star-3 R&J Nelson Otieno “beats the count” on his first ever visit to the canvas as a refereee
▪️”I’m sorry, I didn’t like it seeing the referee on the canvas it’s my mistake I tripped him,” says Musyoki in his apology to ref Nelson Otieno
▪️Today’s final highlights:
Bantamweight Chris “Tiger” Musyoki vs Dennis Muthama
Featherweight Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo vs Chris Juma
Lightweight Emmanuel Omollo vs Ben Juma
Minimumweight Silus Onyango vs Morris Kimani
Light-heavyweight Man Ngori Robert Okaka vs George Cosby
Flyweight Pioneer Veronica Mbithe vs Lencer Akinyi
Light-middleweight The Smiling Assassin Friza Asiko vs Claire Okwaluma. Cruiserweight Chris Ochanda vs Humphrey Ochieng aka Jakababa
April 4, 2026
A packed Kaloleni Social Hall witnessed an earthquake when experienced international boxers Shaffi Bakari and Washington Wandera suffered stunning upset defeats to ambitious young boxers in a hotly contested National Kenya Open semi-finals on Friday, April 3, 2026.
In a dramatic day, reputed referee and chairman of Boxing Federation of Kenya Referees & Judges Commission Nelson Otieno made his first ever trip to the canvas as a referee but he quickly “beat the count” in the bantamweight semi-final between Shaffi Bakari and his conqueror, former Jericho Boxing Club boxer Chris “Tiger” Musyoki who accidentally tripped Otieno aka Kinshasa Mobimba.
The rivalry between defending Open champions Police and KDF intensified with the soldiers entering 12 boxers in the finals and Police 8.
Shaffi Bakari, a silver medallist in the 2019 African Games, gold medal medal winner in the 2022 Africa Zone 3 and bronze medallist in the 2024 Africa Elite Championships, narrowly went down 3-2 to Prisons’ Chris “Tiger” Musyoki who ventured into boxing in 2016 under coaches Nixon Bisto and Elijah Mringie.
Having previously lost twice to Shaffi, this time around the 21-year-old Musyoki had psyched himself for victory.
“My game plan was to defeat him because I had trained smart, I was positive from the bell I’ll win,” Musyoki, who stays in Bahati Estate, told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
Now selling milk and yoghurt for a living, Musyoki kept Shaffi close and had a better work rate than the experienced Police international boxer.
He got into boxing first by peeping through the windows at Jericho Boxing Club and eventually coaches Bisto and Mringie brought him on board.
“He’s a disciplined boxer with a bright future, despite joining Prisons’ in search of a job he still trains with us in Jericho,” says coach Bisto who is hopeful Prisons will employ him.
Musyoki, a switch hitter, also commented on the dramatic fall of international referee Nelson Otieno.
“I didn’t feel good seeing the referee on the canvas because it was my mistake,” said Musyoki, and went on: “I was rocking so that I can be able to counter Shaffi’s punches then I accidentally tripped the referee, he was so close to us, I’m really sorry for that incident.”
Ahead of the final bout today against KDF’s Dennis Muthama, Musyoki said:”I’ll defeat him, it’s now my time to represent the national team I’m ready.”
The second big upset saw Police’s 19-year-old southpaw Emmanuel Omollo score a 4-1 victory over KDF’s World Championships pre-quartefinalist Washington Wandera in the lightweight division to set up a mouth-watering final against on-fire Kasarani Youth Club’s Ben Juma who stopped Kisumu’s Eric Odoyo. The bout ended prematurely in the first round after Odoyo incurred a shoulder injury. Earlier, a head-on clash opened a deep gash above Ben Juma’s right eye. He hopes all will be well in the final.
Omollo dominated the proceedings in his fight with Wandera, preferring to fight from the inside against the taller KDF soldier who received an eight count in the first round. A heavy right punch from Wandera also saw Omolo counted by referee Kibunja Mwaura.
In the second round, Wandera decided to fight from outside, using his longer reach to pile on points but the tactical Omollo time and against dismantled Wandera’s defence to penetrate through with rapid combinations especially in the third round that saw Wandera receive another eight count. The bout was briefly stopped to give Wandera some respite after being punched below the belt by Omollo.
It was Omollo’s second victory over Wandera, the first one being in the final leg of the 2025 national league in Kisumu.
“I accept defeat, I gave it my all, he’s good but also a rough boxer I’ll meet him again losing is part of the game,” said the 31-year-old Wandera, a product of Kibra Olympic Club where he learned his trade under coach Hassan Salim from 2011.
Omollo, a product of Umoja Estate Gym under coach Mike Mungai, was calm and calculated in his response following his second victory over Wandera.
“I’m happy I’ve beaten Wandera again, I still respect him in the ring he’s my friend too. I’m now looking forward to another tough fight against Ben Juma in the final,” said Omollo.
World Championships quarterfinalist Robet Okaka aka Man Man Ngori sailed to the finals with ease stopping Mombasa’s Lazaro Odote in the first round.
Okaka displayed a new approach, working more on the body of Odote that eventually the referee waved it off on realising the Mombasa boxer was in pain following Okaka’s consistent energy-sapping body blows mostly aimed at Odote’s ribs. Okaka now meets Police’s stubborn George Cosby in the finals. Cosby, who has moved up from middleweight to light-heavyweight, stopped Kisumu’s Emmanuel Odhiambo in the first round.
In addition to the epic lightweight final between Ben Juma and Emmanuel Omollo, another cracker is the featherweight duel pitting Africa Zone 3 silver medallist Mwinyi “Giant Killer” Kombo of Police and Kasarani Youth Club impressive teenager Chris Juma, brother to Ben Juma.
This will be the second time they will meet in the Kenya Open final. The first one in 2024 at Terminus Park Hall ended with Mwinyi outpointing Chris who however felt he was the better boxer and should have won the fight.
Chris will definitely be out to prove his point against the big-punching Kombo who packs a lethal left hook. Kombo beat Lamu’s Rolex Otieno while Chris saw off KDF’s Joseph Gatamba with a second round abandonment of the bout.
Among other highlights, Africa Zone 3 champion Silus Onyango stopped Kisumu’s Wilfred Ouma in the second round to book a final date with Kasarani Youth impressive southpaw Morris Kimani.
Jericho-bred Flyweight Emmanuel Chondo, now boxing for KDF, outpointed Nakuru’s James Tachia, and will meet KDF teammate Kevin Karoga in the final.
Africa Zone 3 light-middleweight champion Friza Asiko aka The Smiling Assassin was too strong for Nakuru’s Winnie Shisali, stopping her in the first round for a final with Nairobi’s stubborn Claire Okwaluma who stopped Kajiado’s Precious Muthoni in the first round.
An entertaining female lightweight bout saw Police new find Rahab Mumbi outpoint Nairobi’s international Sylvia Ombwamu for a final battle against Kisumu’s Emmaculate Atieno. The latter stopped Doreen Kitui of G44 Club in the second. Police now have two female boxers, Mumbi joining African Games bantamweight bronze medallist Amina Martha.
A tough female flyweight bout is the offing featuring Africa Zone 3 champion Veronica “Pioneer” Mbithe of KDF and Nairobi’s Lencer Akinyi. While Mbithe got a bye to the finals, Lencer was pushed to the brim by Mombasa’s Dora Mkacharo enroute to a 4-1 victory.
The 12 KDF boxers in the finals are Emmanuel Chondo, Kevin Karoga, Veronica Mbithe, Dennis Muthama, Pauline Chege, Warren Onyango, Fred Omondi, Friza Asiko, Edwin Okong’o, Alvin Oduor, Robert Okaka and Chris Ochanda.
Defending champions Police’s eight boxers in the finals are Silus Onyango, Mwinyi Kombo, Emmanuel Omollo, Rahab Mumbi, Stephen Onyango, Humphrey Ochieng aka Jakababa, Georgy Cosby and Amina Martha.
2026 NATIONAL KENYA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1-4 Apr 2026 – Kaloleni Social Hall
SEMI-FINALS RESULTS April 3, 2026
Ladies Minimum 48 Kgs
🟥 Grace Atieno PRISONS (5)
🟦 Phelister Oduor DALLAS (0)
Ladies Fly 52 Kgs
🟥 Lencer Akinyi NAIROBI (4)
🟦 Dora Mkacharo MOMBASA (1)
Minimum 48kGS
🟥 Sillus Onyango POLICE ✅
🟦 Wilfred Ouma KISUMU (RSC-2)
🟥 Morris Kimani KASARANI (5)
🟦 Joseph Moses NAKURU ABC (0)
Fly 51 Kgs
🟥 Emmanuel Chondo KDF(4)
🟦 James Tachia NAKURU ABC (1)
🟥 Abdallah Juma MOMBASA (1)
🟦 Kevin Karoga KDF (4)
Bantam 54 Kgs
🟥 Shaffi Bakari POLICE (2)
🟦 Chriss Musyoki PRISONS (3)
🟥 Dennis Muthama KDF ✅
🟦 Emmanuel Otieno G44 (RSC-3)
Feather 57 Kgs
🟥 Mwinyi Kombo POLICE ✅
🟦 Rolex Otieno LAMU (RSC-I)
🟥 Chriss Juma KASARANI YOUTH
🟦 Joseph Gatambo KDF (ABD-I)
Light Welter 63.5 Kgs
🟥 Alloyce Vincent PRISONS (ABD)
🟦 Warren Onyango KDF ✅
🟥 Ayub Waweru SOMBEA ✅
🟦 Pius Macharia KDF (ABD)
Light 60 Kgs
🟥 Washington Wandera KDF (1)
🟦 Emmanuel Omollo POLICE (4)
🟥 Ben Juma KASARANI YOUTH ✅
🟦 Erick Odoyo KISUMU (RSC-I)
Welter 67 Kgs
🟥 Sam Ndiema KIBRA (RSC-1)
🟦 John Muthiani NAIROBI ✅
🟥 Fred Omondi KDF (5)
🟦 Derrick Omondi KASARANI (0)
Ladies Bantam 54 Kgs
🟥 Mary Anyango NAIROBI (0)
🟦 Fridah Mercy MOMBASA (5)
Ladies Light 60 Kgs
🟥 Emmaculate Atieno KISUMU ✅
🟦 Doreen Kitui G44 (RSC)
🟥 Sylvia Ombwamu NAIROBI (0)
🟦 Rahab Mumbi POLICE (5)
Ladies Light Middle 70Kgs
🟥 Frizza Asiko KDF ✅
🟦 Winnie Shisall NAKURU (RSC-1)
🟥 Precious Muthoni KAJIADO (RSC-1)
🟦 Claire Okwaluma NAIROBI ✅
Middle 75Kgs
🟥 Kennedy Omollo KIBRA (RSC-I)
🟦 Stephen Onyango POLICE ✅
🟥 Lawrence Ombwochi KAJIADO (O)
🟦 Edwin Okongo KDF (5)
Light Middle 71 Kgs
🟥 Zackery Nabeya PRISONS (ABD)
🟦 Alvin Oduor KDF✅
🟥 Samuel Owuor KISUMU (3)
🟦 Mumina Matthew NAIROBI (2)
Cruizer Weight 86 Kgs
🟥 Abdalla Juma MERU (RSC)
🟦 Humphrey Ochieng POLICE ✅
🟥 Chris Ochanda KDF (4)
🟦 Nivile Otieno KISUMU (1)
Light Heavy 80 Kgs
🟥 Robert Okaka KDF ✅
🟦 Lazaro Odote MOMBASA (RSC-1)
🟥 Emmanuel Odhiambo KISUMU (RSC-1)
🟦 George Cosby POLICE ✅
Super Heavy 92+
🟥 Jasper Sagali SOMBEA ✅
🟦 Dickson Ochieng KISUMU (RSC)
Heavy 92
🟥 Brian Miraji NAIROBI (RSC-I)
🟦 Fahad Juma KISUMU ✅
This is #NdondiMashinani
IBA | WORLD BOXING | NOCK- Olympics Kenya
